Adelaide December 2007

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Arriving in Adelaide the weekend before christmas. I wasn't expecting rain as I disembarked from the Indian Pacific.

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: adelaide, rain, summer, australia, trip, travel

In Bruges

This black comedy was a very hilarious watch. It is definately for a mature audience, with lots of swearing, killing, drugs and a little sex. It's funny and dark and I really found myself feeling a lot of affection for the child murderer, which is the last thing I would expect from myself. It was full of random little amusing surprises, even if predictible in it's plot at times. I'm really not even sure what it was that endeared him to me....

My favourite review is by Tasha Robinson.

There Will Be Blood

This film is great without a doubt. There are wonderful scenes and remarkable scenery and Daniel Day Lewis does a fine job. I marvelled at how the baby in the beginning scenes survived in such a polluted environment.

My favourite review is by Richard Schickel in Time. Not many negative reviews to be found on this one.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

In the beginning I felt this is a silly film, but not really silly enough to be truly funny most of the time. Interesting yet not totally convincing characters. I couldn't actually concentrate on it. It annoyed me some of the time. Most used word itinerary. Not one of my favourite words.
Then I was drawn in and it began to get me in. It became more interesting and plausible. Then enjoyable.

My favourite review is Roger Ebert's.

Carla Bruni - L'Amoureuse

I like this music video. French sounds great to me. I don't understand a word of it, I just like the sound of it!

Sunday at Mt Baw Baw #1

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Visiting Mt Baw Baw with Mexican Visitors on Sunday 27th July 2008

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: mt, baw, australia, victoria, snow, winter, village

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

This was a dark and facinating film. The characters, all despicable strangely sad due to their desperation. They made a bigger mess than you could see a way out of. The actors were great and the film well made. Not for the kiddies I might add.

Kate Bush Under Review

This British documentary about Kate Bush, was a series of interviews with both the artist and four 'experts' as well as partial clips of her more recognised songs. She came across in the interviews as humble and I enjoyed watching my favourite artist speak about her work over the years. I find her music endlessly facinating and moving.

This film will be shown at the MIFF again. Check the program for details. Parts of it are also available on Youtube.

Downtown Albury on a Saturday Night

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July 2008 standing in the middle of the road in Albury looking toward the monument.

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: albury, main-street, cars, monument, night

I'm Not There

Todd Haynes ambitious portrait of the many lives of Bob Dylan is facinating if only for the device he has used. I enjoyed each of the characters depicted. It's worth watching. Realistically I think you would need more than 6 characters to make up the lives of anyone, yet I guess as public persona's go, this is acceptable. I enjoyed the music and the acting. Aussies Kate Blanchett and Heath Ledger take on a character each.

I recommend it.

The Painted Veil

This film was the kind of love story you can believe, complete with human frailties and errors. I want to read all W.Somerset Maugham's books now. It was so beautiful. The setting was great. It was set in China. The political and historical background was interesting. I loved the scene where the Nationalist soldier was negotiating/interpreting with the local warlord. It was clever.

I read 'The Moon and Sixpence' a couple of years ago and found it so rich in it's characters and their transformations and I found this story to be similar. They are very authentic....touching, human and moving.

I recommend this film. I totally enjoyed it.

TED: Chris Jordan: Visualising Excess

I love these kinds of visual displays. Chris Jordan makes a great pictorial display to question some of the paths Americans take. His musings could be applied equally here in Australia. I loved it. I showed it to a class on the last day of school and whilst they were working on other things - it had an impact running away in the background as it was. It stimulated some interesting discussion. Just the way I like it....

The Kite Runner

I loved the book 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini, it was a great insight into human nature and the changes that have occured in Afghanistan. The film adaptation was great. I expected it to be more visually stunning though to be honest. The scenes I was looking forward to, the Kite festival and the Pomegranate tree, were not as vivid as I had imagined them, yet isn't that always the way when you read a book and furnish it with your imagination, the film usually disappoints in some way.
It has subtitles and was in all very enjoyable. I found the book illustrated more depth in the relationships as well.

Into the Wild

I absolutely loved this film. Sean Penn did the screenplay and directed it. It's based on a true story about a young man who adventures out into the world leaving behind comforts to travel and survive on his own smarts. It's a beautiful film, revealing natural and human treasures.
'Into the Wild' tells the story of my favourite kind of people. Self sufficient adventurers, I find very attractive. I highly recommend it.

Sex and the City

Went to see 'Sex and the City' tonight with a couple of girl friends. There was one man in the cinema. I felt sorry for him. It was very much like the TV show, I've watched enough random episodes to know who was who. It was light entertainment and I laughed a fair bit.

Indiana Jones and the Ageist Press

Every review I've read about the latest Indiana Jones film has made comment about the age of Harrison Ford. So what! I haven't seen the film myself, but my son and his mates went last night. They liked it. It was different, he said, possibly due to the aliens.

I find it kind of sad that the media has to make a big deal about the age of an actor in a film. I mean, big deal!

I will probably watch it on DVD in a few months time.

Tropfest Channel

Nine MSN and Tropfest have a site where you can watch this years films online. Watch the winning film "Marry Me" a love story. I liked it.

The Junior Tropfest winner is also accessible on this site.

Entries are open for Tropfest 2009.

Pangea Day

Saturday May 10th is Pangea Day. Watch films made by the world for the world. An amazing range of films that might just change your world. Get behind it.

Queenscliff Early Morning

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Dawn at the Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia back balcony of the Queenscliff YHA.  

The Golden Compass

'The Golden Compass' is based on the fantasy novel 'Northern Lights' by Philip Pullman. It is the first in the trilogy 'His Dark Materials'. The production of the other two will apparently depend on the success of the first. People who have read the book are apparently displeased with the film. I am not one of them. I intend to read the book one day though.

I enjoyed the film. The acting and settings were great. I liked the fast pace and variety of action. I especially loved the song 'Lyra' written and performed by Kate Bush.